TYNESIDE is celebrating today as a Government research grant paves the way for more than 1,000 jobs.

TYNESIDE is celebrating today as a Government research grant paves the way for more than 1,000 jobs.

Tyneside engineering firm OGN has been handed £640,000 to design a new foundation jacket for offshore wind turbines.

The Government wants to see some 6,000 of the turbines put up across the UK coast line, meaning OGN is preparing to open a factory running 24/7 next year.

That £50m project will see Tynesiders build the devices coming out of the research work backed by the Government grant.

Graham Kennedy, chief technical officer at OGN, said it would build the prototype steel-jacket later this year, looking for production work to start full-time in 2014.

And OGN chief executive David Edwards said: “We are delighted to have been selected for this grant. Government support is especially vital in the early stages of project development.

“The offshore wind energy market is crucial to Britain’s future energy needs and we will do our utmost to ensure that this grant takes the UK into an even stronger role as the lead player in this sector.”

“This cash shows we are delivering on our commitment to support innovation and offshore wind.

“Making wind turbines more efficient is common sense and will help bring down the costs, making them more attractive to build and helping us increase the amount of electricity we get from clean, green sources.

“It’s great to see OGN stepping up to the challenge to ensure offshore wind energy is produced in the most cost-effective way.”

North East Chamber of Commerce chief executive James Ramsbotham, also welcomed the news.

He said: “Offshore wind provides a wealth of opportunity for the North East, which boasts the requisite workforce skills in engineering and manufacturing, the riverside yard locations and the desire from both the public and private sector to ensure the region becomes a successful hub for new and renewable energy.

“OGN’s commitment to driving down the costs of offshore wind foundations will help make this clean energy a viable option in the UK’s energy mix.”

OGN Group is already using a section of Hadrian Yard in Wallsend to build an oil production platform for American firm Apache, a deal which is worth £150m and has seen about 700 workers brought to the site.

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